WESTPHAL BACK ON BENCH WITH LOWLY KINGS
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Although Paul Westphal has been a college coach, a basketball executive and a broadcaster over the past nine years, he always looked for the right spot to get back into the NBA as a head coach.
He believes he found it on the ground floor with the Sacramento Kings, who can’t go any lower than they finished this spring.
“I feel like because of the way the last few seasons have gone, this is a clean slate,” Westphal said Friday. “The ability to build a team with not having to make compromises (makes it) just an exciting time to join the Kings.”
Westphal formerly was an NBA head coach in Phoenix and Seattle.
Gasol’s foul language
ORLANDO, Fla. — Pau Gasol is from Spain, Mickael Pietrus from France. So when they have a confrontation on the court, what language is it in?
“I said it in English to make sure he understood it,” Gasol said.
Pietrus was called for a flagrant foul for pushing Gasol in the back as the Lakers forward completed a dunk with 3.4 seconds left in overtime of Los Angeles’ 99-91 victory in Game 4.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said it looked like Pietrus had “a serious intention to come at him.”
Ewing returning.
Magic assistant Patrick Ewing has signed a contract extension to stay with the club next season. The Associated Press
